SEQUENCES & SERIES
Gr 12
PART 2
LEVEL 1&2 Questions
Finding the SUM of an AP
Sn = sum of n terms
a = first term
n = number of terms
d = common difference
Sum of an Arithmetic Sequence
Deriving the Sum formula of an AP
Write out the Sum of an AP, using the general term
notation (i.e. T1, T2, T3 … Tn) … call it Equation (1):
Sn = a + (a+d) + (a+2d) + … + [a+(n-2)d} + [a+(n-1)d] (1)
Rewrite the Sum of n terms of an AP, but in reverse …
call it Equation 2:
Sn = [a+(n-1)d] + [a+(n-2)d} + … + (a+2d) + (a+d) + a (2)
Now add Equation 1 and Equation 2:
2 Sn = [2a+(n-1)d] + [2a+(n-1)d] + [2a+(n-1)d] + … +
[2a+(n-1)d] + [2a+(n-1)d]
So, if there are n terms, you have n times [2a+(n-1)d]
terms:
2 Sn = n [2a+(n-1)d]
Solving for Sn:
Proof of an Arithmeti
c Series
Alternative SUM formula of an AP
Sn = sum of n terms
a = first term
n = number of terms
l = last term
Deriving the Sum formula of an AP
If they ask you to derive the formula, using the last term,
where l = [a + (n-1)d]:
Write out the Sum of an AP, using the general term
notation (i.e. T1, T2, T3 … Tn) … call it Equation (1):
Sn = a + (a+d) + (a+2d) + … + (l – d) + l (1)
Rewrite the Sum of n terms of an AP, but in reverse …
call it Equation 2:
Sn = l + (l – d) + … + (a+2d) + (a+d) + a …. (2)
Now add Equation 1 and Equation 2:
2 Sn = (a+l) + (a+l) + (a+l) + … + (a+l) + (a+l)
So, if there are n terms, you have n times (a+l) terms:
2 Sn = n(a+l)
Solving for Sn:
Example 1:
Sibu’s parents put R100 into an account on the
day that he was born and then decided to
continue this every year but to increase the
amount by R50 annually until he turns 21. How
much will he receive on his 21st birthday.
100 , 150 , 200 …. S21
i.e. a = 100; n = 21 and d = 50
Example 2:
Determine the first term of an arithmetic
progression if the sum of forty terms is 1660 and
the last term is 77.
i.e. a = ?; n = 40; l = 77 and S40 = 1660
Sigma (Σ) Notation
e.g. Working with Sig
ma Notation
• Σ means the SUM of …
• i is the start of the “counter”
• n is the end of the “counter”
• (4i – 3) is the general term
So, substitute i = 1 into the general term & calculate
its value; then the counter clicks up one (i.e. 2); so
substitute i = 2 and find the value of the term, all the
way to the nth term. Now sum up all the terms.
Example 1:
Calculate:
Step 1: Find n
n = “top counter” – “bottom counter” + 1
= 23 – 3 + 1
= 21
Step 2: Find the first three terms, by substituting
in the value of i
a = 8(3) + 2 = 26
T2 = 8(4) + 2 = 34
T3 = 8(5) + 2 = 42
Calculate:
Step 3: Find d
[From Step 2: a = 26; T2 = 34 and T3 = 42]
d=8
Step 4: Substitute into the sum formula
[From steps: n = 21; a = 26; d = 8]
Example 2:
Determine the other possible value of n, given
that
a = 4(1) – 20 = -16
T2 = 4(2) – 20 = -12
S2 = -16 + (-12) = -28
n=?
a = 4(1) – 20 = -16
T2 = 4(2) – 20 = -12
T3 = 4(3) – 20 = -8
d = -12 – (-16) = 4
Sn = -28
=0
=0
Sigma N
otation
THEORY:
EXAMPLE
Given: 5 ; 9 ; 13 ; 17 ; 21 ; 25 ;
29 ; 33
If , determine the 5th term
Solution
= 65
= 44
𝑇 𝑛=𝑆𝑛 − 𝑆𝑛− 1
𝑇 5= 𝑆5 −𝑆 4
𝑇 5=65 − 44
𝑇 5 =21
SUM OF
GEOMETRIC
SEQUENCES
Finding the SUM of a GP
Sn = sum of n terms
a = first term
n = number of terms
r = common ratio
Deriving the Sum formula of a GP
Write out the Sum of a GP, using the general term
notation (i.e. T1, T2, T3 … Tn) … call it Equation (1):
(1)
Now multiply both sides of Equation 1 by r … call it
Equation 2:
(2)
Now subtract Equation 1 from Equation 2:
(1)
(2)
Simplify and take out a common factor:
Proof of a Geometric S
Solving for Sn: eries
Sum of a Geometric
Sequence
Example 1:
Determine the sum of the first ten terms, given
the geometric sequence: -4; 8; -16; …
i.e. a = -4; n = 10; r = -2 and
Working with Geo
metric Progression
s
Example 2:
Determine x and then the sum of the first twelve
terms, given: 1 𝑇 2 𝑇 3
𝑟= =
𝑇1 𝑇2
i.e. a = 1; n = 12; r=½ and
Example 3:
Calculate:
n = 13 – 1 + 1
= 13
a=
T2 =
T3 =
3
i.e. a = 6; n = 13; and
Characteristics of the SUM TO INFINITY
In an Arithmetic Progression, the sum to
infinity will result in a DIVERGING series
• i.e. the sum will be infinitely big or infinitely
small
In a Geometric Progression, the sum to infinity
will result in a CONVERGING series
• i.e. the sum will be get closer and closer
(converge) to a particular number
Requirements to find the SUM TO INFINITY
• Must be a Geometric Progression
(as the series will converge)
• The common ratio must be between -1 and 1
i.e.
Sum to Infinity
Finding the SUM TO INFINITY
= sum to infinity
a = first term
r = common ratio
Sum to infinity example
Example 1:
Determine the sum to infinity of: 1 + ½ + ¼ + …
i.e. a = 1; n = ∞; r=½ and
Example 2:
For which values of x will this sequence
converge?
For a converging sequence:
In this sequence:
THE END
